Oil company Phillips 66 announced Wednesday that it plans to shut down a Los Angeles-area refinery by the end of 2025, citing market concerns."With the long-term sustainability of our Los Angeles Refinery uncertain and affected by market dynamics, we are working with leading land development firms to evaluate the future use of our unique and strategically located properties near the Port of Los Angeles," CEO Mark Lashier said in a statement.
The goal is to avoid sudden increases in gas prices when refineries go offline for maintenance.RELATED: Newsom signs law to prevent gas price spikesPhillips 66 said it supported the state’s efforts to keep certain levels of fuel on hand to meet consumer needs. The company also operates a refinery near San Francisco that produces about 5% of the state’s crude oil, according to the state Energy Commission.